Join in the fortnightly women’s runs round Edinburgh and the surrounding countryside. Most is off-road, away from the traffic. Meet on alternate Mondays (venues below) for a social run of about an hour. In the lighter evenings, after the clocks move forward, we usually leave the trails of Edinburgh and head for the surrounding countryside. Sometimes it’s useful to have a head torch on the ‘winter’ dates.
There is now a ladies’ run WhatsApp group. Any ladies who want to be on the group contact Joanne with their mobile no. and download the app to their phone (a WhatsApp group is very like a Facebook private group but you don’t need to be on Facebook).

Meet 6.45 pm ready to run at the venue (or hostess’s house) as listed below.If you do not know where that is, please contact Joanne Thin, above. On winter runs, soup or other sustenance will be provided if running from a house.

Thanks to volunteers for hosting runs. Ladies run volunteers please if your plans change and you cannot host at the time can you aim to try and find someone else as substitute host and e-mail the new venue to the ladies in good time (cc me of course and contact me if any problem).

Ladies there is now a ladies whatsapp – if you download the app on your smartphone and ensure I have your mobile you can use this to check who is coming on a run.
You can also use it to arrange other runs.
Numbers have been small recently on ladies runs. If you want a faster or slower or longer run you can use whatsapp to check /ask if someone of your pace will be there, or even suggest a different time.
Some ladies wanted to meet earlier. If that is still the case can you let me know please as the meet time can always be reviewed.

Looking forward to some interesting summer outings.Joanne Thin

Bill Gauld is an honorary lady for our Monday sojourns. He celebrated his 81st recently. In appreciation of the yummy cake and the camaraderie on Ladies night, he penned this thank you –

To all you girls with smiling eyes,
Who once a fortnight cheer me,
I wish that I was half my age,
And you were always near me.

Ladies run reports –

This week’s ladies run saw us heading into the Pentlands. The snow had mostly melted but had left everywhere very wet, muddy and slippery underfoot. We set out from Margaret’s, unfortunately without Margaret herself as she is bravely fighting a cold in order to race at the Devil’s Burdens. This is great commitment.

Catherine led the run in her place. We set out through the woods at Dreghorn, up White Hill and across to Bonaly. We started out with 11 but lost Kirsty early on as she too was feeling under the weather and wanted to be ready for Saturday. More great commitment to our Devil’s Burdens teams! At Bonaly we lost two more due to headtorch malfunctions (or, proof that battery power is better than usb). The remaining 8 of us continued through the woods down to Torduff Reservoir and along the road to the dam. From there we headed back to Bonaly and over the shoulder of White Hill, under the bypass and home through the woods. A few of us managed to completely overshoot the turnoff, this might have been my fault but I was distracted by the fun trail and good conversation. Thanks to Catherine for coming to rescue us!

Reunited again back at Margaret’s we were joined by Bill who had been out on his own adventure. We warmed up with Margaret’s delicious soup, homemade bread, and a selection of cheese, followed by some amazing apple and raspberry crumble. If there had been any doubt, all the mud was worth it!

It was great to see some new faces on the run. Welcome to Carnethy Becky and friends! I’m super impressed with your enthusiasm for the muddy trails even without trail shoes! See you all at the next one!

On Monday evening Joanne, Patricia, Ruth, Elaine and Margaret considered re-running the Bonaly Handicap of last week as Patricia wants to get it right next time. However, in the end we decided to miss out Checkpoints 1 and 2 anyway and head straight up White Hill and on to Allermuir. On the way there we saw an abandoned pram (a pram in the hills?!) which gave Ruth and Patricia some fun. Ruth had to head back just before we reached the top of Allermuir, but the rest of us ploughed on and made it to the top of Capelaw, before heading back to Bonaly via the reservoir and the pine wood. It was a lovely run on a fine evening and we had time to enjoy the blooming heather.Margaret

After a rather long drive on Saturday and Sunday back for holiday, I was back at work feeling fat, lethargic and unfit when I had a call from Moira asking if I fancied leading the ladies round Roslin in the evening.

What could be nicer than a jog round Roslin with the Carnethy Ladies?

So Moi and I set off from my house at 6:40 and met up with the others on Main Street. A small bunch, Sandra, Patricia, Ruth and Bill. I discussed our route with Bill and he headed off to meet us later on (or not!).

We visited the Battle of Roslin Memorial (24th February 1303) –The Scotsman ArticleThe Battle of Roslin History
– and then Dryden Ice House, we ran along the line of the Kill Burn (the burn is mostly underground) Visiting Bilston Viaduct (originally by Thomas Bouch of Tay Bridge Infame).

A quck run down into the glen and up again saw us at Hewan Bank.

On Hewan Bank

Maiden Castle

“An farmers tae this very day,
When they’re at the ploo-in,
Still find shinbanes in the clay,
At the place they call ‘The Hewin”

We didnt find any Shin Banes, we didn’t even find Bill as we ran down the bank and round The loop in the river Esk that forms “The Maiden Castle”. After a stone skimming stop we followed the Esk (taking the high Road) to Roslin Castle, Roslin Chapel and then back to Main street to find Bill waiting. After regaling us with his exploits and why he never found us he fed us Rasberries and Goosberries from his garden.

Seven of us (Hilary, Moira, Sandra, Maggie, Joanne, Kate and newcomer Elaine) headed out from Hillend bottom car park for a wild and windy run to the top of Allermuir. We took the low track towards Boghall, ran through a new area of woodland owned by the Scottish Wildlife Trust and through the fields up to the col between Caerketton and Allermuir. We headed back via the ski slopes.Kate Friend

Festive Ladies Night chez Delia(Patricia!)
7 ladies turned up for a frosty run from Gardeners Crescent (Patricia’s pad). We headed along by frozen Union canal tow path, small hill run up Lemington Terrace, cross over through Meadows to eventually appear in a ‘spooky’ Olde Innocent Railway.Return journey to Gardnners Crescent by original route. Only 5 returned for a warm up with delicious home-cooked French Onion Soup, and nostalgic Ribena and Tunnocks Teacakes. Ambient Festive atmosphere created with twinkling fairy lights on Tree and Christmas music in background. Thanks Patricia.Sandra Chandler

On Monday evening the Carnethy Ladies and Bill met at Margaret’s house and ran down to the Water of Leith. Bill and Joanne carried on at a slightly slower pace along the river, while the rest of us ran on upstream to Woodhall Farm and the new luxury accommodation for horses. The owners of the horse hotel have greatly improved the Circumnavigation of Edinburgh route up to Tiphereth. Until recently this used to be a narrow and very wet path squeezed between two fields, but now the burn has gone, the land drained and hardcore put down to make this a much easier running route.

From Tiphereth we ran up and over the old Torphin Hill Golf course which is happily returning to nature with lots of interesting paths produced by walkers and runners. We carried on over to Torduff Reservoir and then onto Bonaly, passing a field of alpacas. Next came the plod up White Hill and then down to the new Dreghorn Woods and under the bypass to the Polofield and the Covenanters’ Wood and finally, through the gate to Margaret’s garden. Many thanks to everyone who came along!Margaret